Sir Ian Botham expects England to pick experienced Ashes squad

Sir Ian Botham expects England to select an "experienced" Ashes squad as they bid to retain the urn against Australia this winter.

England will head down under fresh from home Test series wins over South Africa and Windies, the second of those sealed courtesy of a nine-wicket victory at Lord’s on Saturday.

Mark Stoneman (40no) and Tom Westley (44no) boosted their claims for Ashes spots by steering the hosts to their 107-run target in the capital.

And Botham reckons England will pick few rookies in their party to tackle Australia, with the first of five Tests beginning in Brisbane on November 23.

"Australia is not the place to wander down and learn quickly – you don’t, you’ve really got to fight it out down there," Beefy told Sky Sports.

"Batting-wise I think they will stay with the more experienced players and maybe the same with the bowlers, with possibly a couple of young players.

"I feel Stoneman will go – he has been around a while, he is organised and he knows his own game – while Westley has done himself no harm after playing more positively.

"There are two or three places up for grabs and it will be interesting to see which way the selectors go."

James Anderson became the first English bowler to 500 Test wickets at Lord’s en route to career-best figures of 7-42, with Ben Stokes recording his best of 6-22 in the Windies’ first innings.

"It makes for good cricket when the bowlers get a bit more help," said Botham. "When they have the edge, it makes the batsmen work and makes for exciting cricket.

"I have enjoyed watching Stokes swinging the ball and we want these guys full of confidence whe they get on that plane [to Australia].

"Anderson, the leader of the pack, is bowling well, and he and Stuart Broad will get a break now [with them not playing one-day cricket] so I think England are in pretty good shape."

England were taken to a series decider by Windies after the tourists, inspired by Shai Hope’s two centuries, won the second Test at Headingley, just over a week after they were thrashed by an innings and 209 runs at Edgbaston in the first.

"I think with Hope, Shannon Gabriel, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach gives it everything, there are lots of good young players who can develop and have good, long careers," added Botham.

"No one thought this side had a chance but they showed in Leeds that they have something about them.

"They also have a good coach in Stuart Law, who played at a high standard of cricket, expects high standards from his players, and has been around the block.

"I actually said at the end of the game at Headingley that it was a fantastic victory for the Windies and maybe, just maybe, it could be a kicking point.

"I hope they do kick on because the world of Test cricket needs a vibrant West Indian side."

The Sky Cricket experts will pick their Ashes squads live at Lord’s on Sunday morning. Watch the special show from 10.30am on Sky Sports Cricket (channel 404).

(c) Sky News 2017: Sir Ian Botham expects England to pick experienced Ashes squad